15. Live in the NOW

"Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

We often forget to live while we're living, because we're focusing on something that we wish to be. Or we're worried about something that lies ahead, and it distracts us so that we don't seem to be able to accomplish anything or get any closer to where we want to be.

The key to living a life of peace is to set our sites on where we want to be, but focus on where we are NOW, and take each step, moment by moment.

The past is past. The future will come when it comes. We are here in the present. We can learn from the past. Where we can, we can try to mend our relationships with the people who are a part of our lives. But where there is nothing we can do, we have to let it go. We have to let ourselves live, free of the burdens of guilt, and regret and anger. We can plan for the future, but we must live in the present and let go of anxiety and worrying about what might be.